Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs. Gary Payton: Career Scoring Comparison

We break down the scoring legacies of Gary Payton and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to determine who has the better numbers. Here you can compare their career totals, points per game, games of 40+ points, 50+, etc. and their year-by-year scoring averages side by side, both in the Regular Season and Playoffs.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season / Scoring / Stats / Stats Rankings

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Gary Payton are among the all-time leaders in points in NBA history—combining for a total of 60,200 points—. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is also one of the all-time leaders in points per game. Here we compare their scoring stats.

By taking a look at their career numbers for points, the first conclusion one can arrive at is that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has better scoring stats than Gary Payton in averages and totals, both in the regular season and Playoffs. However, we won't stop there and we'll go into detail to analyze what these statistics are made up of, from how many games they had in each threshold (30+ points, 40+, 50+, etc.) to their season-by-season scoring averages.

On this page we compare:

Who has better scoring stats? Career Numbers
Games of 30+ points, 40+, 50+, etc
Shooting Stats
Points Year by Year

Career Numbers
Who has the better scoring stats?

Points in the Regular Season

In his 20 NBA regular seasons played, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar averages 8.3 points more than Gary Payton in his 17 seasons (24.6 points against 16.3), and he also scored a total of 16,574 points more (38,387 vs. 21,813).

Points Per Game

Seasons
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 24.6
+8.3
20
Gary Payton 16.3
17

Total Points

Seasons
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 38,387
+16,574
20
Gary Payton 21,813
17

Scoring Titles

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 2
Scoring leaderScoring leader
+2
Gary Payton 0

Points in the Playoffs

Similar to what happens in the regular season, in the NBA postseason Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has a better career point average than Gary Payton (+10.3 points per game) and he also scored more points (+3,607).

Points Per Game

Playoffs
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 24.3
+10.3
18
Gary Payton 14.0
15

Total Points

Playoffs
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 5,762
+3,607
18
Gary Payton 2,155
15

Points by Thresholds

Regular Season

50+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 10
+10
Gary Payton 0

40+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 70
+64
Gary Payton 6

30+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 429
+353
Gary Payton 76

20+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1,122
+607
Gary Payton 515

10+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1,509
+474
Gary Payton 1,035

1+ Point Games (games with points)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1,559
+255
Gary Payton 1,304

0 Point Games (games without points)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1
Gary Payton 31
+30

Playoffs

40+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 9
+9
Gary Payton 0

30+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 75
+70
Gary Payton 5

20+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 169
+122
Gary Payton 47

10+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 223
+131
Gary Payton 92

1+ Point Games (games with points)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 237
+87
Gary Payton 150

0 Point Games (games without points)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 0
Gary Payton 4
+4

Career Shooting Stats Comparison

more >>

Regular Season

Stats Per Game

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 24.6 10.2 18.1 55.9 * 0.0 * 0.0 * 5.6 4.3 6.0 72.1 20 1,560
difference:+8.3+3.7+4.1+9.4+0.8+2.7+26.1+1.9+2.6+0.8+3+225
Gary Payton 16.3 6.5 14.0 46.6 0.8 2.7 31.7 2.4 3.4 72.9 17 1,335

Total Stats

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 38,387 15,837 28,307 55.9 * 1 * 18 * 5.6 6,712 9,304 72.1 20 1,560
difference:+16,574+7,129+9,609+9.4+1,131+3,552+26.1+3,447+4,824+0.8+3+225
Gary Payton 21,813 8,708 18,698 46.6 1,132 3,570 31.7 3,265 4,480 72.9 17 1,335

Notes: Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80.
* = some years in his career didn't have the stat.

Playoffs

Stats Per Game

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 24.3 9.9 18.7 53.3 * 0.0 * 0.0 * 0.0 4.4 6.0 74.0 18 237
difference:+10.3+4.3+6.1+9.2+0.9+2.8+31.5+2.4+3.2+3.4+3+83
Gary Payton 14.0 5.6 12.6 44.1 0.9 2.8 31.5 2.0 2.8 70.6 15 154

Total Stats

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 5,762 2,356 4,422 53.3 * 0 * 4 * 0.0 1,050 1,419 74.0 18 237
difference:+3,607+1,501+2,484+9.2+137+431+31.5+742+983+3.4+3+83
Gary Payton 2,155 855 1,938 44.1 137 435 31.5 308 436 70.6 15 154

Year by Year Points Average Comparison

Scoring leader= NBA Scoring Leader
NBA Champion = NBA Champion

Regular Season

Rookie Season

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 28.8
+21.6
197082
Gary Payton 7.2
199182

Season 2

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Scoring leader31.7
+22.3
1971NBA Champion82
Gary Payton 9.4
199281

Season 3

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Scoring leader34.8
+21.3
197281
Gary Payton 13.5
199382

Season 4

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 30.2
+13.7
197376
Gary Payton 16.5
199482

Season 5

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 27.0
+6.4
197481
Gary Payton 20.6
199582

Season 6

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 30.0
+10.7
197565
Gary Payton 19.3
199681

Season 7

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 27.7
+5.9
197682
Gary Payton 21.8
199782

Season 8

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 26.2
+7.0
197782
Gary Payton 19.2
199882

Season 9

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 25.8
+4.1
197862
Gary Payton 21.7
199950

Season 10

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 23.8
197980
Gary Payton 24.2
+0.4
200082

Season 11

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 24.8
+1.7
1980NBA Champion82
Gary Payton 23.1
200179

Season 12

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 26.2
+4.1
198180
Gary Payton 22.1
200282

Season 13

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 23.9
+3.5
1982NBA Champion76
Gary Payton 20.4
200380

Season 14

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 21.8
+1.4
198379
Gary Payton 20.4
200380

Season 15

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 21.5
+6.9
198480
Gary Payton 14.6
200482

Season 16

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 22.0
+10.7
1985NBA Champion79
Gary Payton 11.3
200577

Season 17

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 23.4
+15.7
198679
Gary Payton 7.7
2006NBA Champion81

Season 18

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 17.5
+12.2
1987NBA Champion78
Gary Payton 5.3
200768

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's additional seasons:

* Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played 2 seasons more than Gary Payton in the NBA.

In those years—his seasons 19 to 20, from 1988 to 1989—he averaged 12.4 points in a total of 154 regular season games.

Playoffs

Rookie Season

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 35.2
+30.4
197010
Gary Payton 4.8
19915

Season 2

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 26.6
+19.0
1971NBA Champion14
Gary Payton 7.6
19928

Season 3

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 28.7
+16.4
197211
Gary Payton 12.3
199319

Season 4

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 22.8
+7.0
19736
Gary Payton 15.8
19945

Season 5

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 32.2
+14.4
197416
Gary Payton 17.8
19954

Season 6

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar -
DNP
19750
Gary Payton 20.7
+20.7
199621

Season 7

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar -
DNP
19760
Gary Payton 23.8
+23.8
199712

Season 8

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 34.6
+10.6
197711
Gary Payton 24.0
199810

Season 9

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 27.0
+27.0
19783
Gary Payton -
DNP
19990

Season 10

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 28.5
+2.7
19798
Gary Payton 25.8
20005

Season 11

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 31.9
+31.9
1980NBA Champion15
Gary Payton -
DNP
20010

Season 12

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 26.7
+4.5
19813
Gary Payton 22.2
20025

Season 13

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 20.4
+1.9
1982NBA Champion14
Gary Payton 18.5
20036

Season 14

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 27.1
+8.6
198315
Gary Payton 18.5
20036

Season 15

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 23.9
+16.1
198421
Gary Payton 7.8
200422

Season 16

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 21.9
+11.6
1985NBA Champion19
Gary Payton 10.3
20057

Season 17

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 25.9
+20.1
198614
Gary Payton 5.8
2006NBA Champion23

Season 18

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 19.2
+19.2
1987NBA Champion18
Gary Payton 0.0
20072

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's additional Playoffs:

* During his 2 additional NBA seasons, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played in two Playoffs and won one NBA Championship. In those postseasons he averaged 12.9 points in a total of 39 games.

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